Souda Bay: NATO's Military Gem in the Eastern Mediterranean
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Souda Bay: NATO’s Military Gem in the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Daniel Goure Lexington Institute March 2016 Executive Summary The Middle East is afire, Russia is on the march and France, the United Kingdom, the United States and dozens of other countries are at war with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The Eastern Mediterranean is at the center of a titanic geo-political and strategic struggle as refugees flood to Europe from the Near East and North Africa. United States air units are deployed to Turkey and Russian forces to Syria. Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States and Israel are building up military defenses due to increasing chances of conflict in the region. The U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) need a stronger presence in the Mediterranean to monitor activities, and to prevent attacks on members and partners. The increasing conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean calls for a stronger U.S. Sixth Fleet, but Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, has stated there is no plan to bolster scarce U.S. naval resources in the region. This means the alliance must adapt by developing a new approach to its southern flank, increasing its presence, developing a European Maritime Security Strategy, and building ally and partner relations and regional security architectures. To deter aggression in the region, NATO also needs to boost the military power of its existing members. Greece is one example of a member nation that could increase its involvement, and thereby strengthen NATO’s capabilities. Greece has a long history with the West, and serves as a key geopolitical point for NATO. The country forms the alliance’s southern tip, and its large eastern border is exposed to volatile conflicts that unfold in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf. According to Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, and current Dean, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, has shared, “Greece occupies a remarkable geopolitical position as a solid southeastern anchor to the NATO Alliance. The bases on Crete are particularly critical when looking at the instability in the Levant. NATO should work with Greece, the United States, and other allies to strengthen the bases and increase their utility to NATO and the European Union.”1 Greece is a trusted and capable ally that is one of five alliance members that meets the alliance goal of spending two percent of gross domestic product on defense, consistently surpassing the minimum as far back as 1988. The Hellenic Republic regularly participates in military exercises with allies and partners, and hosts U.S. forces and multiple NATO facilities. Greece’s contributions allow for alliance cohesion, and the security of the Mediterranean and Europe by helping with reconnaissance missions, logistics, maintenance, and air refueling support. Admiral Mark Ferguson, Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, has confirmed that Navy Support Activity Souda Bay located on the Greek island of Crete is a strategic logistics and maintenance point that supports both allied and U.S. ships and aircraft conducting operations in the Mediterranean Sea. American forces rely on the strategic location and support capabilities of Souda Bay to sustain U.S. forward presence and respond to crises in the Eastern Mediterranean.2 Souda Bay is one of the few locations capable of hosting a permanently based aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean along with destroyers and amphibious ships that would allow for quicker and cost effective responses in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf. In addition, NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center at Souda Bay serves as a “One Stop Shop” in the area by educating maritime law enforcement. The NATO Missile Firing Installation is located nearby, serving as the only place in Europe where missiles can be test fired, and is capable of hosting Marine battalions when forces are needed in the region. The NATO Fleet Operational Readiness Accuracy Check Site ensures vessels are working properly so alliance members can share accurate information. Athens, Washington, and NATO should identify more synergies to work together and protect peace and commerce in the Mediterranean Sea. Growing Instability in the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is facing two major threats to the European continent: a more aggressive Russia and the multi-dimensional danger of organized jihadist terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa. Since Russia invaded Ukraine and occupied Crimea, East-West relations are at the lowest level since the Cold War. A more hostile and capable Russian Navy has increased its presence and conducts military exercises in the Mediterranean, NATO’s southern maritime flank. The exercises practice anti-submarine, anti-ship and air defense operations, inconsistent with a counterterrorism strategy, and test European boundaries in the air and water. Recently, Russia launched 26 cruise missiles over 900 miles from ships in the Caspian Sea aiming for Syria, a very dangerous move considering Russia’s liberal use of nuclear threats against NATO countries; not until impact was it clear if the missiles carried conventional or nuclear warheads. Moscow also signaled its intention to destabilize the balance of power across the Middle East by considering to supply friends and clients in the region with advanced military capabilities, such as Iran. Furthermore, Russia announced its anti-access/area denial strategy in 2015, a growing problem in the Eastern Mediterranean, as its submarine patrols have risen by about 50 percent compared to the year of 2014. Russia’s submarine fleet is becoming better armed and stealthier, and monitors and targets underwater cable systems rich in intelligence – over 95 percent of information available on the Internet can be found in these wires. Admiral Mark Ferguson, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, underscored how Russia’s Navy aims to create an “arc of steel” by establishing bases from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. The Russian base at the port of Latakia, Syria, in particular, allows Moscow to project power into the Eastern Mediterranean which may deter NATO maritime forces in the region. Furthermore, Moscow claims it entered the war in Syria to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). General Philip Breedlove, NATO Commander, Europe, has stated that about 80 percent of Russia's declared targets have been in areas not held by ISIS.3 It appears that defeating the terrorist group is at the bottom of Moscow’s list The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman departs Souda Harbor on a deployment to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility. (Retrieved from U.S. Navy) 1 while its main goal is to influence Damascus’ future and increase Russian presence in the Mediterranean Sea. In response to Russian aggression, Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries have increased military spending and have requested NATO’s help to bolster their defenses. The jihadist extremist threats in the Middle East and North Africa are growing more powerful, dangerous and brazen. ISIS has brought down a Russian airliner, conducted terrorist bombings in Lebanon, and killed more than 120 civilians in Paris. After Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was captured and killed by rebels in October 2011, a power struggle among multiple groups resulted. Currently, Yemen is enduring a civil war with Houthi rebels taking over the capital and other areas, and Syria’s civil war has resulted in over 250,000 deaths, 800,000 injuries, and more than six million refugees. ISIS has become stronger in Syria and is growing its presence in Libya, Egypt, Yemen and even Afghanistan, using ruthless tactics to terrorize civilians and conquer territory. Due to unrest in the Middle East, refugees flood to Europe through Greece and Italy, the largest number of foreigners to enter Europe since World War II. The influx of immigrants is a security concern due to the difficulties involved in tracking so many people and the demonstrated danger that terrorist members are able to infiltrate refugee flows. The fear of crisis breaking out in the Eastern Mediterranean is illustrated by the actions of regional players. Egypt is seeking to acquire new military capabilities from countries other than the United States, and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States are building up missile defenses, advanced surface combatants, combat aircraft and precision munitions. Israel is also expanding missile defense capabilities, most recently with the decision to deploy the David’s Sling system. In 2013, Ankara asked the alliance to deploy Patriot missiles to Turkey for protection against the Syrian threat. NATO Needs More Robust, Quicker Response Capabilities Since future conflicts are expected to happen quickly on NATO’s flanks with no time to build military presence and execute responses, the alliance needs to respond much faster to threats than in the past, according to Admiral Ferguson. Some ways NATO could decrease response time is by developing a strategy for its southern flank, creating a clear European Maritime Security Strategy, such as the U.S. Department of Defense published on the Asia Pacific, and building ally and partner relations and regional architectures. A strong and regular exercise regime that focuses on southern scenarios and maritime ballistic missile defenses would allow the alliance to test its ability to understand and respond to various threats. High- end training lets allies practice individual and collective responses to common threats while moving soldiers and assets quickly. Possessing the capability to rapidly move soldiers and equipment deters aggressive action from potential enemies, while delaying the movement of troops and assets increases the likelihood of battle. The attacks in Paris highlight the need to improve U.S. and NATO intelligence cooperation to foresee threats.